Overcrowding
Overcrowding is a huge problem when it comes to general compartments. The first, second, and third-tier AC coaches are noticeably much cleaner because these are reserved and contain a limited number of passengers. However, not all the people who travel by general compartments can afford reserved coaches because these AC tickets cost 2 to 3 times more than the general ones. That's why the general compartments are mostly overcrowded.
Clogged Toilets
Indian Railways has more than 50,000 coaches, and 25% of them use a direct flush system where the waste directly comes out onto the railway track. 75% of them have been upgraded with biodigested toilets. The direct flush system is unhygienic because human waste remains on the railway track, which spreads germs. Biodigested toilets have sewage tanks where bacteria break down human waste by converting it into methane.
However, a study by IIT Kanpur showed that these tanks contain a limited amount of bacteria, and after some time, the tanks fill up with waste and need to be emptied. The General Secretary of the National Federation of Indian Railways stated that such toilets have a problem with choking. Railway staff have to fix this problem. Bio-toilets need five liters of water for every flush with good pressure, but Indian Railways doesn't have the necessary water pressure, which causes clogged toilets. Many times, the fittings in these toilets get damaged, which reduces the water pressure.
Lack of Civic Sense
Apart from that, one of the biggest problems is that many passengers also don't have any civic sense. A 2017 report showed that toilets get clogged because many passengers throw bottles, cigarettes, tobacco packets, and even sanitary napkins in the toilet. Some passengers don't know what to throw in the toilet and what not to.
Poor Infrastructure and Maintenance
People often complain about trains not having dustbins. The worst condition is in general compartments, where there are so many people that it's impossible to clean the toilets.
Slower Trains
You must have heard about the super-fast Vande Bharat Express on social media, but you probably don't know that regular trains are running slower. In the 1960s and 1970s, it used to take less time to travel between Bangalore and Chennai or Bengaluru and Coimbatore compared to today. Earlier, the Brindavan Express used to take 5 hours to reach Chennai; today, it takes more than 6 hours.
The New Indian Express reported that when the Shatabdi Express was introduced in Indian Railways, the Covai and Brindavan Express became slower. Vande Bharat trains can travel up to 180 km per hour, but there are many tracks that are not good enough, so the top speed is only 130 km per hour. Varanasi is the fastest route from New Delhi, but the average speed there is only 95 km per hour. On most routes, Vande Bharat has an average speed of 70 km/h. On average, Vande Bharat Express saves only 14% time, but its price is 52% more than other routes.
Conclusion
CAG reports said that Indian Railways' financial condition has entered a concern zone in 2021 because their operating ratio is 107%, which is the highest in their history. What does a 107% operating ratio mean? It means that to earn 100 rupees, Indian Railways has to spend 107 rupees. The government says that this happened in 2021 because they couldn't earn much due to COVID-19, but data shows that since 2016, the operating ratio of Indian Railways has been more than 100%. In fact, in nine out of 17 zones, the operating ratio is more than 100%. The main reason for this is that ticket prices are low. Indian Railways earns money in two ways: goods traffic and passenger traffic. The amount of money Indian Railways earns from passengers depends on the type of ticket they have booked.
By addressing these core issues—overcrowding, clogged toilets, lack of civic sense, poor infrastructure, and slower trains—Indian Railways can significantly improve the travel experience and operational efficiency.